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From Navy Voluntary Education and Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center (NETPDC) Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Six of the top 10 colleges accepting Tuition Assistance (TA) are participating in the Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE), available to Sailors on type 2 or 4 sea duty.

"Our goal for the NCPACE program is to provide eligible afloat Sailors the same quality education available to those on shore duty," said Lisa Teeling, Navy Voluntary Education NCPACE program manager. "Between the available Instructor-Led (IL) and Distance Learning (DL) courses, almost any curriculum is available through our participating schools, which include the majority of the top schools for TA."

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Actively seeking opportunities to help others is something that Aaron Hall, a 16-year-old Minarets High School junior from O'Neals, California, constantly strives to do.

"Life is from B to D -- from birth to death -- but there is a C in between. That C stands for the choices we make during our lives," Aaron said, paraphrasing his favorite quote from an anonymous author.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- On the eve of the 2018 Operation Homefront military child of the year gala -- an event created to recognize the accomplishments of seven outstanding military kids -- Rebekah Paxton was overwhelmed with emotion as a result of her father's absence.

Just a week prior to the Thursday event, Paxton, this year's Army recipient, was hard at work. Around then, her uncle came in with some horrible news. Rebekah's father had tried to take his own life and was in a hospital on life support.

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md., April 27, 2018 April is designated as the Month of the Military Child and is a time to honor the sacrifices of the more than 1.7 million children of military members serving in the U.S. and overseas.

Military children go through different challenges than civilian children, said retired Air Force Master Sgt. Jose Cerna, a parent of two military children. With todays operations tempo of the military and all the deployments military members have to go through, the children have to stay behind and have to be strong without their parent[s].

The Department of Defense Spouse Education and Career Opportunities team will host the 2018 Virtual Military Spouse Symposium May 21-24, 2018. The four-day virtual symposium is designed to provide you with up-to-date and relevant information related to career development, entrepreneurship, personal branding, military family well-being, employer connections and more.

Welcome to Plan My DeploymentSupporting service members and their families and loved ones throughout the deployment/mobilization cycle

Here, you’ll find tips, resources and articles to help you prepare for all phases of the deployment cycle. Articles are organized by phase, so you’ll see information you need to know about pre-deployment, deployment and reunion and reintegration. Think of this as your deployment how-to guide.

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- What if you are screaming for help, but no one can hear you? What if your life starts to crumble? Do you know where to turn or what options are available to veterans and service members?

That is exactly how retired Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brandon Jones felt as he reached a breaking point in his military career and decided it was time to reach out to military agencies to get the help he desperately needed.

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. -- A small child in the North Bend area was on the verge of death, if not for heroic actions of a medic from the Washington National Guard and her team, who spotted the child in the back of a sport utility vehicle and quickly went to her aid.

"It was clear that if it had not been for the efforts of Pvt. Hilinkski, the young child would not have survived," said Sgt. 1st Class Jesus Garcia.

WASHINGTON -- The Department of the Army announced today the summer 2018 deployment of the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, to Europe.

As part of the regular rotation of forces, the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade will replace the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade and support combatant commander mission requirements for U.S. European Command's Atlantic Resolve.

WASHINGTON -- The Department of the Army announced today the spring 2018 deployment of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, to Iraq.

The 3rd Cavalry Regiment will replace 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division as part of a regular rotation of forces to support Operation Inherent Resolve.

"The Regiment of Mounted Riflemen is a trained and ready force, just as it has been for the last 171 years, and we stand ready to answer the nation's call to fight and win anywhere in the world," said Col. Jonathan Byrom, 3rd Cavalry Regiment commander. "After spending the last several months conducting an intense training cycle, culminating with a National Training Center Rotation, the troopers are well prepared for our mission.

WASHINGTON -- The Department of the Army announced today the summer of 2018 deployment of the 101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to Afghanistan.

The 101st Airborne Sustainment Brigade Headquarters and Special Troops Battalion will replace the 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade Headquarters and Special Troops Battalion as part of a regular rotation of forces to support Operation Freedom's Sentinel.

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy announced April 11 in NAVADMIN 091/18 that the April deadline for enlisted women applying to convert to submarine force ratings would be extended to June 1.

This announcement comes as an update to NAVADMIN 300/17, which announced the fourth cycle of female Sailor selections for conversion to Submarine Force ratings. Selections from this round of applications will be for initial integration of USS Georgia (SSGN 729) in 2019, and to fill openings on previously integrated submarines in Kings Bay, Georgia and Bangor, Washington, due to personnel rotating to shore duty.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Children are typically carefree, no job, no bills to pay, no worries. However, that is not true for the military child.

Military children don't typically fall into the carefree category. At any given time their lives can be in a state of change; living in a single-parent or no-parent household with parents deployed or geographically separated due to military obligations, changing schools and living in turmoil are just a few things military children deal with on a regular basis.

By Staff Sgt. Jannelle McRae, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs / Published April 07, 2017

Washington (AFNS) -- Eighteen-year-old Jamal Braxton has a busy schedule. The high school senior holds various leadership positions with the Red Cross, participates in multiple varsity sport programs and is a lifeguard. He accomplishes all this as a military child and the challenges inherent in military family life.

Because of his accomplishments, Braxton was presented the Operation Homefront 2017 Air Force Military Child of the Year award by Air Force Assistant Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Stayce Harris April 6, 2017, in Washington D.C.

Joy, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, lost her business amid the 2008 financial crisis, and was forced to live out of her van. Being homeless made even relatively simple tasks complicated, but over time, Joy found that she was growing accustomed to homelessness, making it even harder for her to get back to work. It wasn’t until Joy enrolled in the Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency’s Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program, or HVRP, that she was able to get back on her feet. The center helped her find a home and a sense of purpose, and even hired her as a veteran outreach specialist.

Funded by the Labor Department, HVRP provides services to help homeless veterans reenter the workforce, which in turn gets them back on track in other aspects of life. Services include occupational, classroom and on-the-job training, as well as job search and placement assistance, including follow-up services. Real employment opportunities help veterans reach both financial stability and independence.

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2017 - The Veterans Affairs and Defense departments are introducing to service members who have Servicemembers Group Life Insurance an online enrollment system called the SGLI On-line Enrollment System that enables active duty and eligible reserve and National Guard members to manage their group and family coverage online.

SGLI provides $400,000 in automatic life insurance coverage to service members when they enlist. SGLI members get automatic coverage for dependent children and non-military spouses under the family SGLI program.

April 15 is Purple Up! day, a time for Americans to show their support for military families. Department of Defense Education Activity schools will celebrate the event on April 20 because of spring recess.

Its to build awareness for the needs of military families, said Barbara A. Thompson, the director of the office of family readiness policy.

WASHINGTON, April 7, 2016 The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he was appreciative and spirited after meeting surviving family members of service members during the 9th Annual Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors annual Honor Guard Gala last night at the National Building Museum here.

Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford accepted the TAPS Honor Guard Gala Military Award on behalf of the men and women serving in Americas armed forces. He was introduced by Connor McCracken, the son of Army Reserve Col. David McCracken, who died of cancer in 2011 after serving for 30 years. McCracken, who serves in his high schools Junior ROTC program, said he was honored to introduce the general.

The Department of Defense announced today that effective immediately, service members who are serving, or have served, in Iraq, Syria, or contiguous waters or airspace on or after June 15, 2014, who meet eligibility criteria are authorized award of the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal.

MANASSAS, Va., April 24, 2015 - First Lady Michelle Obama announced yesterday that numerous technology and energy companies have committed to hire or train 90,000 veterans and military spouses in the next five years as part of the Joining Forces initiative.

Celebrating the fourth year of Joining Forces this month, the first lady spoke to an audience of veterans, family members, business owners and government leaders here at Micron Technologies, which produces memory-storage devices.

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2015 - The Defense Department continues to invest in its service members and has introduced a new online informational tool tailored to their unique school programs and educational needs, the Defense Department's chief of voluntary education said in a DoD news interview this week.

Estala's sculpture, titled "Marry Me," was a dress made from 130 plastic bottles to symbolize the spouses of active-duty service members based on her personal experience as an artist and military spouse.

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2015 - As concerns persist over ever-rising obesity levels among American children, the Defense Department will bolster its Healthy Children programs to weave fitness, nutrition and tobacco-free living into military children's curriculum, a Pentagon official told DoD News.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity rates in the United States have tripled since 1980, and these statistics portend possible jeopardy to the readiness of future service members, said Barbara Thompson, director of DoD's Office of Family Readiness Policy, during a DoD News interview on the observance of April as the Month of the Military Child.

The Department of Defense (DoD) announced today that the remains of up to 388 unaccounted for sailors and Marines, associated with the USS Oklahoma, will be exhumed later this year. Upon disinterment, the remains will be transferred to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) laboratory in Hawaii for examination. Analysis of all available evidence indicates that most USS Oklahoma crew members can be identified upon disinterment.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work approved the disinterment of unknowns associated with the USS Oklahoma and also established a broader DoD policy , which defines threshold criteria for disinterment of unknowns.

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2015 - For many new or expecting parents, the stress of navigating the needs and developmental milestones of an infant or toddler can rival that of deployments.

But a well-established program not only provides many resources to help untangle the parental requirements of understanding the critical first three years of a child's life, but also brings child care experts right into military families' homes, Barbara Thompson, director of DoD's Office of Family Readiness Policy, said in a recent DoD News interview. April is the Month of the Military Child.

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2015 - The Defense Department observes April as the Month of the Military Child, and also recognizes this time of year as it pertains to a more sobering topic: National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

In a recent DoD news interview, Barbara Thompson -- director of DoD's Office of Family Readiness -- stressed that anyone aware of red flags and potential cases of abuse has an obligation to bring the concerns to light.

NEW TV SERIES SEEKS MILITARY COUPLES TO COMPETE FOR DREAM HOUSE IN ATLANTA, GA - CASTING NATIONWIDE

Relativity Television and the creator of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" are launching a nationwide search for hard-working American couples to take their shot at the American Dream of becoming homeowners. In the ultimate do-it-yourself competition, chosen couples will put their lives on hold for up to nine weeks and tackle a series of intense renovation and remodel challenges. Only the most resourceful and competitive will survive, and the last-couple-standing will win the mortgage-free deed to a house in ATLANTA, GA.

Casting is open NATIONWIDE, and accommodations will be made for those selected from out-of-state. Couples will be required to live in Atlanta during the competition (up to nine weeks) and must be ready to move to Atlanta should they be awarded the grand-prize home.

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2015 - ThanksUSA, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to thanking America's troops through the gift of education, is inviting children and spouses of America's armed forces to apply for its post-secondary education scholarships, according to a ThanksUSA news release issued today.

Those interested can apply via the organization's website, and the application period extends from today through May 15, 2015, the release said.

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2015 - To highlight the year-round contributions, courage and patriotism of the military community's youngest members, the Defense Department observes April as the Month of the Military Child, a Pentagon official told DoD News.

Established by then-Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger in 1986, the month recognizes some 1.9 million U.S. military children ranging in age from infants to 18 years old who have one or both parents serving in the armed forces, said Barbara Thompson, the director of DoD's Office of Family Readiness Policy.

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2015 - With the expiration of a law that allowed service members to carry up to 75 days of leave from one fiscal year to the next, troops should plan to carry no more than 60 days of leave into fiscal year 2016, defense officials recently announced.

Service members will automatically lose any accumulated ordinary leave in excess of 60 days on October 1, 2015, officials said. Troops covered by special leave accrual rules may still carry up to 120 days from one fiscal year to the next, officials noted.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III will present the Prisoner of War Medal to eight World War II era U.S. Army Air Forces personnel during a ceremony at the Pentagon auditorium, Wednesday, April 30 at 10 a.m. EDT.

The Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James authorized the award of the POW Medal to 143 USAAF airmen who were interned in the Wauwilermoos, Switzerland, prison camp during World War II.

WASHINGTON, April 28, 2014 - The American Forces Network Broadcast Center has established a hashtag for Facebook users to help AFN honor military spouses during Military Spouses Appreciation Day on May 10.

The initiative will center on a special hashtag -- #spouseappreciation -- that Facebook users can include in posts and photos that pay tribute to military spouses.

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2014 - Despite a national unemployment rate hovering at just under 7 percent, a Pentagon program intended to help unemployed military spouses find jobs -- including positions with Fortune 500 companies -- is surpassing its goals, connecting more than 60,000 military spouses with 220 private- and public-sector partners since the program began three years ago.

The Military Spouse Employment Partnership is designed to help military spouses -- whom Defense Department research shows are, on average, better educated than their civilian counterparts -- reach their career goals, said Meg O'Grady, a senior program analyst in the Pentagon's Office of Family Policy and Children and Youth.

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2014 - The Defense Department has dealt effectively with the Heartbleed computer vulnerability, but individuals must do their parts as well, DOD's deputy chief information officer for cybersecurity said.

Richard A. Hale spoke about Heartbleed during an interview with American Forces Press Service and the Pentagon Channel.

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2014 - First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, are calling on Americans to submit questions via social media about "Joining Forces," a national initiative they started three years ago that mobilizes all sectors of American society to support service members and their families.

Tomorrow, the first lady and Dr. Biden will mark the initiative's third anniversary at Fort Campbell, Ky., where they will speak to service members, families and employers at the Veterans Jobs Summit and Career Forum and will answer some questions about the initiative.

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2014 - President Barack Obama will award the Medal of Honor to former Army Sgt. Kyle J. White in a May 13 White House ceremony for conspicuous gallantry while serving in Afghanistan's Nuristan province Nov. 9, 2007, White House officials announced today.

White left the Army in July 2011 and now lives in Charlotte, N.C., where he works as an investment analyst.

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2014 - First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden today announced several new initiatives designed to strengthen support for military caregivers.

On the third anniversary of the Joining Forces launch, Obama and Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, were joined by former first lady Rosalynn Carter, former U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, military caregivers, and business, labor and military leaders at the White House-hosted event.

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO - FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, April 26, 2013 - Wounded soldiers recovering here have a message they'd like to pass on to the Boston bombing victims: You're not alone.

They can relate to the devastating aftermath of an explosion and the emotional and physical pain of lost limbs. And they know firsthand the courage and strength required to heal after blast injuries like those at the Boston Marathon.

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2013 - Service members married to other service members are no longer automatically enrolled in the Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program, Pentagon officials said.

The change was effective Jan. 2, and to date affects about 4,500 service members, Coast Guard Cmdr. Kristen Martin, who heads the Defense Department's SGLI policy office, said in an interview with American Forces Press Service and the Pentagon Channel.

Women anchor our military just as they anchor our society in other areas. This event is for all military women:· The female veterans who have served our country with honor· The women currently serving in the military· The military women who stand on the frontlines here at home

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2013 - The Veterans Affairs Department has launched a new hotline -- 1-855-VA-WOMEN -- to receive and respond to questions from veterans, their families and caregivers about the many VA services and resources available to women veterans.

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2013 - The Defense Privacy and Civil Liberties Office ensures that DOD civilians and service members are able to exercise their First Amendment rights when using social media platforms, Michael E. Reheuser, the office's director, said here April 19.

"DOD's social media policy requires that personnel follow certain rules," Reheuser said in an interview with American Forces Press Service and the Pentagon Channel. Those rules aren't intended to limit free speech, he added, but only to make sure that the information being posted doesn't compromise operational security.

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2013 - The loss of personally identifiable information -- such as Social Security numbers -- is a concern throughout the Defense Department, the director of the Defense Privacy and Civil Liberties Office said last week.

"When people lose control of the Social Security number and other personally identifiable information, they really are susceptible to identity theft," Michael E. Reheuser said during an April 19 interview with American Forces Press Service and the Pentagon Channel.

My name is Kenya Brading, I am a Casting Associate at casting at Metal Flowers Media. We cast TV shows including: Storage Wars, The Colony, One Man Army, Ice Road Truckers, The Hunt, Bar Rescue and Frontiermsmen. I am currently casting a show called "Our House Rules" and we are looking for some military families to be on the show. Perhaps you could forward this email on to some of your members?

Parenting is not always easy - if only there were a manual! Is tough love the best? Spanking or no spanking? Let kids run free and give them their independence, or squeeze them tight and keep them close and teach them the rules? Listen to your gut, or read their diary? Make them talk, or leave them alone? Only YOU can decide what is best for your children, and what makes you the best parent you can be.

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2013 - Yesterday at a White House ceremony, an Army chaplain, Capt. Emil J. Kapaun, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic and selfless actions during the Korean War. President Barack Obama presented the medal to Kapaun's nephew, Ray Kapaun, during a ceremony in the East Room. Ray was joined by other family members and veterans of the Korean War who served with Kapaun.

Kapaun was ordained a priest in 1940, and served under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wichita in Pilsen, Kan. In 1944, he began serving as an Army chaplain. In 1993, Kapaun was named a "Servant of God" by the Vatican, and is currently a candidate for sainthood.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that a serviceman, who was unaccounted-for from the Korean War, has been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2013 - A modification in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System is expected to streamline personal records for better efficiency, the director of the Defense Manpower Data Center said here yesterday.

In an interview with American Forces Press Service and the Pentagon Channel, Mary Dixon said information will now be entered into DEERS in personnel offices, rather than identification card offices.

WASHINGTON, April 5, 2013 - With April designated as Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Defense Department is highlighting its commitment to preventing child abuse and neglect among military families, especially through the Family Advocacy Program, and providing those who need it with counseling.

The FAP focuses on strengthening family resilience though visits and counseling with new military parents, as well as on educating young families about the stresses of parenting and what it takes to maintain healthy relationships especially when some members are deployed.

"JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas" If you married, have a new address or experienced similar life changes in March, you should review your emergency contact information to ensure it is accurate, Air Force Personnel Center Officials advised.

The Military Personnel Data System manages such military personnel and pay information as accessions, separations, retirements, promotions, reenlistments, training, mobilization and casualty. Because the system was outdated and required a complete upgrade, officials brought the system down for 17 days in March.

FALLS CHURCH, Va., April 5, 2013 - Despite upcoming service area reductions, TRICARE Prime will remain a health care option for 97 percent of the more than 5 million beneficiaries eligible for the health care plan, Military Health System officials said.

The 3 percent difference, which comprises about 171,000 beneficiaries who mostly reside more than 40 miles from a military clinic or hospital, automatically will revert to the TRICARE Standard health care option Oct. 1, officials said.

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2013 - Life through the eyes of military children through their paintings, drawings and writings was on public display at the Education Department here today to celebrate the Month of the Military Child.

Since 1983, the Defense Department has officially recognized military children for the support they provide to their families, and the military now has 1.8 million children in the services.

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2013 - Defense Department officials are working to standardize a program designed to help service members get care for family members with chronic health issues or special needs who otherwise might face forgoing an assignment or having to cut short a deployment because of an inability to find such care.

The Exceptional Family Member Program supports military families with special medical and educational needs, and the program is now in the process of being standardized across the force to make it easier for such families as they move from one assignment to another, regardless of location or military affiliation.

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2013 - During April's Month of the Military Child, the Defense Department recognizes the support provided by and sacrifices made by military children, said Barbara Thompson, director of DOD's office of family policy/children and youth.

Since 1983, DOD has recognized military children for the support they provide to their families. There are now 1.8 million children in the military system, Thompson said.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman from World War II have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army 1st Lt. John E. Terpning, of Mount Prospect, Ill., will be buried on April 3, in Arlington National Cemetery. On May 7, 1944, Terpning was a pilot of a B-24D Liberator that departed Nadzab, New Guinea on a bombing mission.

Due to mechanical troubles, the B-24D was delayed in departing the airbase and was unable to join the formation after takeoff. The aircraft, Terpning, nor the nine other crewmen aboard the plane were seen after takeoff. In 1946, the War Department declared all ten men to be presumed dead.

In 1973, a Papua New Guinea Forest Department official reported a wartime aircraft in the mountains northeast of the city of Lae. In October 1973, a team of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) responded to the report and visited the site, where they found aircraft wreckage that corresponded to that of a B-24D. At that time the RAAF recovered possible human remains, which were transferred to the U.S. Army Mortuary in Tachikawa, Japan; however, given the limited technology at the time, no human remains were individually identified. In 1974, the remains were buried as a group at Arlington National Cemetery.

In April 2008, a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) team was sent to investigate and survey the crash site. The team recovered aircraft wreckage, including a radio call sign data plate that matched the aircraft, from a B-24D and additional remains.

To identify the remains, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools such as dental comparisons and mitochondrial DNA, which matched Terpning's brother.

At the end of World War II, the U.S. government was unable to recover and identify approximately 79,000 Americans. Today, more than 73,000 are unaccounted-for from the conflict.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call 703-699-1169.

Washington, DC - Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - The award-winning GI Film Festival (GIFF), the nation's only military-themed film festival, is pleased to announce the full schedule of events for the 2012 event, which will feature premiere military film screenings, celebrity appearances, red carpet parties and more. The festival will take place Monday, May 14 through Sunday, May 20, 2012 in Washington, DC. For ticketing information and the program schedule, visit www.gifilmfestival.com.

WASHINGTON, April 27, 2012 - President Barack Obama, accompanied by first lady Michelle Obama, today visited with 3rd Infantry Division soldiers at Fort Stewart, Ga., and discussed a new executive order that helps to safeguard military education benefits and protect service members from predatory schools.

Obama and the first lady expressed their desire to protect military members, veterans and their families from predatory recruiters offering bogus and costly education programs.

The Defense Department announced today its assignment policy changes will be implemented May 14, opening 14,325 additional positions to women.

The two changes to the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule, announced Feb. 9 in a report to Congress, could not be implemented without a Congressionally-mandated notification period, which has now expired.

4/20/2012 - ARLINGTON, Va. (4/12/12) -- Air Force Capt. Barry Crawford, a Maryland Air National Guard member from the 175th Wing, who fought in and survived a 14-hour firefight in 2010, was presented the Air Force Cross during a ceremony at the Pentagon today.

According to the certificate that is accompanying the Air Force Cross - which is the second highest military award for a member of the Air Force - Crawford earned this honor for "extraordinary heroism in military operations against an armed enemy of the United States," where he was serving as an active duty Air Force special tactics officer near Laghman Province, Afghanistan May 4, 2010.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Pfc. Richard E. Clapp, 19, of Seattle, Wash., will be buried April 25, at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.

April 18, 2012 - Washington, D.C. - C*A*M*M*O, The Center For Military Music Opportunities is casting military wife singers to take part in a the Kennedy Center's Annual Spring Fundraising Gala, to be held Sunday, May 6, 2012, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

We are seeking 30 to 40 post- 9/11 military wives to form a choir that will perform a brand new piece of music written especially to bring awareness to the stories and honor the courageous lives of our military spouses.

Eventful’s “Demand it!” Service Will Empower Voters to Choose Local Bases for Screenings Before the Epic-Scale Action-Adventure Opens in Theaters on May 18

San Diego – April 12, 2012 – Eventful Inc., the leading digital media company connecting consumers with live entertainment, movies, and local events, and Universal Pictures announced today the first-ever online campaign to bring sneak previews of Universal Pictures’ “Battleship” to 10 U.S. military bases. The epic-scale action-adventure opens in theaters across the country on May 18.

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2012 - The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors [ http://www.taps.org/ ]is seeking active duty service members and recent veterans to serve as volunteer mentors to children of the military fallen over Memorial Day weekend in Washington, D.C.

TAPS, a nonprofit organization that provides support and care to families of the military fallen, will host nearly 500 children and teens from across the nation at its 18th Annual TAPS Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp.

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2012 - Army Spc. 4 Leslie H. Sabo Jr., a rifleman with the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War, will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor in a May 16 ceremony, White House officials announced yesterday. Sabo is credited with saving the lives of several of his comrades in Company B, 3rd Battalion, 506th Infantry, when his platoon was ambushed near the Se San River in eastern Cambodia on May 10, 1970. Sabo shielded a comrade from an enemy grenade and silenced a machine-gun bunker before he was killed.

Sabo's widow, Rose Mary Sabo-Brown, and his brother, George Sabo, have been invited to the White House for the ceremony. President Barack Obama recently telephoned Sabo-Brown to inform her that her late husband would receive the nation's highest award for valor.

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2012 - Service members and Defense Department civilian employees who are eligible for the Thrift Savings Plan will soon have a new Roth option for retirement savings under the program, defense finance officials announced today.

The change will allow participants to contribute after-tax dollars to the federal government-sponsored retirement savings and investment plan, according to a Defense Finance and Accounting Service statement released today.

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2012 - First Lady Michelle Obama highlighted the shared sacrifices of military children while meeting with the teenage daughters of service members yesterday in Jacksonville, Fla.

"On behalf of myself and my husband, I want to tell you all truly how proud we are of you," Obama told hundreds of high school girls, along with some of their parents, who greeted her at Naval Air Station Jacksonville. "We are so proud of you. We are inspired by you, and we are grateful for everything that you do for this country every single day."

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Cpl. Patrick R. Glennon of Rochester, N.Y., will be buried April 11, at Arlington National Cemetery. On Nov. 1, 1950, Glennon, and the G Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, were holding a defensive position along the Nammyon River near Unsan, North Korea, when they were attacked by Chinese forces. Glennon was listed as missing in action following the heavy fighting.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Allen J. Avery of Arlington, Mass., will be buried April 6 at Arlington National Cemetery. On April 6, 1972, six airmen were flying a combat search and rescue mission in their HH-53C Super Jolly Green Giant helicopter over Quang Tri Province in South Vietnam when they were hit by enemy ground fire and crashed.

BETHESDA, Md., April 4, 2012 - The first ladies of the United States and the U.S. military helped to observe Easter and the Month of the Military Child here today by visiting children and their families at a Fisher House on the campus of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

The Fisher House Foundation donates homes built on the grounds of major military and Veterans Affairs Department medical centers. The homes give family members a comfortable place to stay to be close to a loved one during hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease or injury.

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2012 - First Lady Michelle Obama today announced a new hiring effort intended to deliver thousands of portable, flexible job opportunities to military spouses and veterans in the coming years.

Eleven companies have pledged more than 15,000 jobs for military spouses and veterans, the first lady said, noting the vast majority of these jobs can be accomplished from home.

A national network television series is seeking a military couple that is ready to address their broken marriage. If you and your spouse are open to do the work it will take to get back on track, we’d like to help you start down the road to recovery.

Relationship expert Lyanla Vanzant is ready to help you by taking a deeper look at the issues that are contributing to your crisis. Has your marriage gone from fun and flirty to tedious and toxic? Do you fight with your spouse about the same things over and over? Are you just staying in it for the kids?

"JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO - RANDOLPH, Texas" - The Air Force's goal is to retain injured Airmen on active duty. But when this is no longer an option, wounded warriors may explore new opportunities to serve through the Air Force Wounded Warrior Civil Service Employment Program. The program helps all combat or hostile-related ill, injured and medically separated Airmen transition into Air Force federal civilian employment. It's also one way the Air Force supports wounded warriors throughout the entire reintegration process and journey to a new 'normal.'

"Helping wounded warriors get back on their feet and into the workforce again means a lot to them," said Amelia Ruiz, a human resources specialist at the Air Force Personnel Center here. "Since 2009, more than 150 warriors have requested placement into federal service."

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2011 - First Lady Michelle Obama stood tall behind a podium in the White House's East Room, her husband close at hand, as she addressed a packed audience of high-ranking military and government officials.

Although it was a high-powered crowd, the first lady wasn't there for the officials or for the star-studded brass. She was there to speak for military families.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2011 - In what started out as a small pilot program, members of Disabled American Veterans, working with the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments, began visiting wounded warriors at Fort Bragg, N.C., to talk about benefits and services available to them after they leave active duty.

Now 40 DAV transition service officers have become regulars at 144 military installations participating in the joint VA-DOD Benefits Delivery and Discharge Program, which provides transition assistance to separating service members who incurred disabilities related to their military service.

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2011 - For a 10-year-old boy, Tristan Fissette has fortitude to spare.

The son of Chief Petty Officer Patrick Fissette, a Navy reservist, the fourth-grader is working on his second-degree black belt in karate and has no shortage of other activities that keep him busy, especially when his dad is deployed. Despite the demands of his karate training, he finds time to help feed the hungry and to mentor new students in karate and in school.

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2011 - "Our Military Kids," a national nonprofit organization, honored four children and a military family here yesterday in an award ceremony at the Navy Memorial.

During the organization's "Our Military Kids of the Year" event, retired Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace -- 16th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Our Military Kids advisory board member -- spoke on the importance of the families service members leave behind when they deploy, especially the children of those families.

SPIKE TV IS IN SEARCH OF THE WORLD’S MOST LETHAL COMBATANT IN NEW REALITY SERIES

“Most Lethal” To Feature 12 of the World’s Best Special Forces Operatives in an Array of Combat Challenges

Spike TV delves into the secretive community of special ops in “Most Lethal,” a new one-hour non-scripted series in which real-life warriors from the top tiers of special operation forces face-off in a grueling competition to determine who is the fiercest. The series will examine the shrouded world of these military mercenaries by challenging 12 of the most dangerous in the world to compete for the title of “Most Lethal.”

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2011 - Child abuse and neglect can affect all levels of society, but for military families, help and support are at their fingertips.

The military's strong sense of community gives service members and their families an advantage in preventing abuse and neglect, said Tib Campise, a senior program analyst for the Defense Department's family advocacy program.

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2011 - President Barack Obama will award the Medal of Honor to two soldiers for conspicuous gallantry nearly 60 years ago during the Korean War, White House officials announced today.

Officials said Army Pfcs. Anthony T. Kaho'ohanohano and Henry Svehlawill will receive the nation's highest award for valor in combat posthumously in a May 2 White House ceremony.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Martin P. Murray, 21, of Lowell, Mass., will be buried on April 16 in Marshfield, Mass. Murray, along with 11 other crew members, took off on Oct. 27, 1943, in their B-24D Liberator from an airfield near Port Moresby, New Guinea. Allied plans were being formulated to mount an attack on the Japanese redoubt at Rabaul, New Britain. The crew's assigned area of reconnaissance was the nearby shipping lanes in the Bismarck Sea. But during their mission, they were radioed to land at a friendly air strip nearby due to poor weather conditions. The last radio transmission from the crew did not indicate their location. Multiple search missions in the following weeks did not locate the aircraft.

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2011 - First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden said they have spoken with countless military families in their travels and have heard some "breathtaking" stories of service and sacrifice.

They've talked to wives dealing with fourth and fifth deployments, to children stepping up to care for their families, and to caregivers who walked away from jobs and homes to care for a wounded loved one.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Cpl. John W. Lutz, 21, of Kearny, N.J., will be buried tomorrow at Arlington National Cemetery. From May 16-20, 1951, Task Force Zebra, a multinational force made up of Dutch, French, and U.S. forces, was attacked and isolated into smaller units. Lutz, of the 1st Ranger Infantry Company, part of Task Force Zebra, went missing while his unit was attempting to infiltrate enemy lines near Chaun-ni, South Korea, along the Hongcheon River Valley.

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2011 - First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, launched an "unprecedented" national initiative today that calls on all sectors of society to join forces to support and honor service members and their families.

Flanked by their husbands, the first and second ladies announced the "Joining Forces" military-support campaign, which aims to raise awareness of military families and spark all Americans -- from citizens and communities, to businesses and nonprofit groups -? to take action to ensure troops and their families have the support they need and deserve.

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2011 - President Barack Obama today made caring for military families a national priority, calling to action his entire administration and communities across the United States on their behalf.

"The strength and the readiness of America's military depend on the strength and readiness of our military families," the president said. "This is a matter of national security. It's not just the right thing to do. It also makes this country strong."

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2011 - First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, will launch a national initiative tomorrow that will call on all sectors of society to support and honor America's service members and their families.

The initiative is intended to educate, challenge and spark action among citizens, communities, businesses, nonprofits, faith-based institutions, philanthropic organizations and the government, a White House release said.

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2011 - Whether it's kayaking down a river, backpacking through the forest or racing "high-adventure style," military teens with a thirst for adventure will have a host of options to choose from this year.

The Defense Department has teamed up with the Agriculture Department and 12 land-grant universities to offer military teens low-cost, high-adventure camps at 50 locations, including one in Alaska and two in Europe, officials said. Four of the camps will offer high-adventure opportunities to family members with special needs, they added.

Right now we are in the process of researching and constructing this story, and finding potential subjects, and would very much appreciated if you could reach out to all your members and followers through twitter and facebook and email for women or men whose spouses are returning home soon from combat, preferably within the next month or two. They can contact me directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The documentary series that we are working on, "Our America with Lisa Ling," is a new show by the Oprah Winfrey Network which explores Americans in unique circumstances through their own personal journeys.

Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn III Message to DOD Workforce on Potential Government Shutdown

"The department remains hopeful that a government shutdown will be averted. The President has made it clear that he does not want a government shutdown, and the administration is working to find a solution with which all sides can agree. However, prudent management requires that we plan for an orderly shutdown should Congress be unable to pass a funding bill before our current funding expires on April 8.

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2011 - Military members would continue to earn wages in the event of an April 8 shutdown of the federal government, but they'd have to wait to collect them until Congress agrees on a budget, a senior administration official said here today.

During a telephone briefing administered by the Office of Management and Budget, a senior administration official detailed the consequences of a possible federal government shutdown that will occur April 8 if Congress doesn't agree on a budget.

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2011 - Military children continually rise to the challenges of military life and deserve the nation's gratitude for doing so, a Defense Department official said today.

"We applaud their character and maturity, and we acknowledge that kids serve too," Robert L. Gordon III, deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy, wrote in a blog today titled "Month of the Military Child: Kids Serve Too."

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2011 - Service members serving outside of the United States -- including those supporting operations in Libya and Japan -- will receive an automatic two-month tax filing extension this year, officials said.

This extension is in addition to the nation's already extended deadline. Due to Emancipation Day, a holiday recognized by the District of Columbia, government officials have pushed the nation's tax filing deadline from April 15 to April 18.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of eight U.S. servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been accounted-for and returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2010 - A program that started three years ago to help Navy and Marine Corps families cope with stress from multiple deployments and other types of pressure has proven so successful it has become a model for the Defense Department.

Some men golf, some prefer to fish, and others enjoy a good game of poker with the buddies. Holly Robinson's father, on the other hand, was obsessed with gerbils. It started innocently enough. After reading an article about "America's Newest Pet" in a 1965 issue of Newsweek, Commander Donald Robinson purchased four pairs of gerbils and stashed them in his Virginia garage. THE GERBIL FARMER'S DAUGHTER by award-winning writer Holly Robinson (Harmony Books; Publication date: June 2, 2009) is the wonderfully quirky and funny memoir of growing up as the daughter of what would become the world's largest supplier of gerbils, a.k.a. The Gerbil Czar.

"The Seven Deadly Sins We Commit Against Our Troops and the Road to Recovery" is the first book to take a hard and honest look at the serious perils facing our returning military, and the positive role that everyday Americans can have in changing the course for this generation of veterans. Angela Alegna is the first civilian to write a book on the issues facing our returning military and her book brings to light the simple attitudes and actions needed by the community to help.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - TRICARE beneficiaries living overseas should keep an eye on their mailbox for critical information about how the new TRICARE Overseas Program contract affects them. To make sure this information finds its way into the right mailbox, beneficiaries living abroad need to update their Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) records - especially their mailing address - as soon as possible.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky., April 22, 2010 - With a cocky grin and larger-than-life presence, Cornelius Madison commands attention when he walks down the high school hall here, always with a hint of a swagger.

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2010 - The wives of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden paid tribute to military children, honoring their strength and sacrifice, in a Month of the Military Child video message posted on the White House Web site.

DOD Announces Winners of the Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced today the winners of the 2010 Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of four U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

USA Cares exists to help bear the burdens of service by providing post-9/11 military families with financial and advocacy support in their time of need. Assistance is provided to all branches of service, all components, all ranks while protecting the privacy and dignity of those military families and veterans who request our help. In the past six years, USA Cares has received over 20,800 requests for assistance and responded with over $7,000,000 in direct grants of support. USA Cares is a Kentucky based 501(c)3 non-profit, charitable organization founded in 2003 and registered with the IRS.

WASHINGTON, April 7, 2010 - With the April 15 tax deadline around the corner, a defense official today offered guidance on how troops can file their returns, and reminded servicemembers to submit their forms on time.

WASHINGTON, April 7, 2010 - Tough economic times have taken their toll on Americans in recent years, leaving many buried under debt or saddled with a now-unaffordable dream house that's plummeted too far in value to sell.

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2010 - Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki yesterday announced promising news for veterans of the Persian Gulf War experiencing the broad range of symptoms referred to as Gulf War Illnesses.

WASHINGTON, April 30, 2009 - As the Department of Veterans Affairs begins accepting sign-ups tomorrow for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, officials are encouraging anyone considering enrolling in the program to get educated about it first to ensure it's right for them.

WASHINGTON, April 30, 2009 - The Defense Department is directing servicemembers and government civilians deployed in overseas war zones to refrain from taking aspirin unless under a doctor's orders, a senior military physician said here today.

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2009 - More than 300 military spouses attended one of two "Field Exercises" recently at Fort Sill, Okla., designed to assist them in dealing with life while their deployed spouses are away.

WASHINGTON, April 27, 2009 - The Defense Department's worldwide influenza monitoring program and decisive action by the medical staff at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, is being credited with helping to identify two cases of swine flu early to help prevent a potential spread.

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2009 - Helping veterans with physical and emotional problems can be overwhelming for caregivers, but despite the long hours and magnified stress, nurses continue to provide quality care to wounded warriors across the country.

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2009 - It's no secret that deployments put stress on a family, and the National Military Family Association has developed a new "Operation Purple" program at no cost to military families.

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2009 - An Army family member has earned $5,000, a laptop computer and a trip to the nation's capital as the first Military Child Award winner for a national troop-support organization.

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2009 - The Military Order of the Purple Heart, a Virginia-based troop-support group, will join the city of Branson, Mo., April 24 and 25 in a special "Hand in Hand" weekend honoring Purple Heart veterans across the country.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2009 - A former Marine sergeant turned country-music artist is using his newfound fame to urge Americans to do more to support the men and women returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

San Francisco, CA - (April 13, 2009) The Claremont Resort & Spa invites current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces to enjoy a weekend getaway this spring with its Service Salute program. The property is honoring the nation's patriotic men and women and their families by offering 25% off the government rate for vacation travel through June 15, 2009 on Fridays and Saturdays.

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2009 - All the support programs in the world won't do any good if no one knows about them, so the Defense Department's principal director for military community and family policy started the office's new "eMagazine."

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2009 - The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus invited more than 300 military families to their show at the Patriot Center here last night for "thrills and chills" under the big top in recognition of the Month of the Military Child.

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden American Forces Press Service

FORT BELVOIR, Va., April 9, 2009 - While many children are spending their spring break away from the schoolhouse on the couch watching television or playing video games, some spent part of their week off this year volunteering and giving back to their military community.

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2009 - One-hundred twenty-three American heroes from the Vietnam War era will be honored posthumously this month during the annual In Memory Day ceremony, according to Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2009 - Anyone from the Saturday morning cartoon generation knows that "reading is fundamental." Now, young military children will get their own version of that message through Reach Out and Read's new military pilot program.

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2009 - The Army's newest resiliency training, Comprehensive Soldier Fitness, is a program designed to improve the emotional and psychological fitness of soldiers and their families, the program's director said.

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2009 - From fundraising to volunteering, troop-support groups are taking full advantage of social networking Web sites to reach out and gather support for troops at home and abroad.

The Department of Defense announced today the deployment of approximately 4,000 additional service members to Afghanistan, pursuant to the President's approval of the Afghanistan-Pakistan strategic review. These forces will be assigned to the ongoing training and mentoring mission in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of four U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. airman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2009 - A Pentagon working group solicited and obtained input from several military support organizations for a policy change that, under strictly delineated conditions, allows media filming of dignified transfer operations of fallen servicemembers' remains at Dover Air Force Base, Del., a senior U.S. officer said here yesterday.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

ARLINGTON, Va., April 29, 2008 - Following a workshop that helped children cope with a military parent's deployment, the familiar, furry denizens of Sesame Street are starring in a new program focusing on multiple deployments and family adjustments upon a parent's return.

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2008 - Operation Homefront has extended the deadline for those interested in one of 25 American Patriot Freedom Scholarships the group offers to children of military families for tuition and other education-related expenses.

PHILADELPHIA, April 29, 2008 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff accepted the Gold Medal of the Union League of Philadelphia here last night on behalf of the men and women of the U.S. military, who he said make America's freedom possible.

Rebecca appears in TV show The Unit. Rebecca says this about the song: 'It's written in military cadence and reflects the pride, devotion and hardships military loved ones and their families often experience.'

You have been relocated (again) because your military spouse has been reassigned, and you dont have any idea of your value in the employment world. As a matter of fact, you dont know what you want to do, aside from what others want of you.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of 11 U.S. servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2008 - Every seven seconds, someone within the Defense Department completes an online training course through a program that's become the gold standard for delivering education and training anywhere, any time.

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2008 - As the children of Defense Department employees arrived in throngs for National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, they transformed the normally serene Pentagon courtyard into a veritable circus, replete with clowns, animals, and arts and crafts.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the re-establishment of the U.S. Fourth Fleet and assigned Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan, currently serving as commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, as its new commander. Fourth Fleet will be responsible for U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and submarines operating in the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

I look at the news before my eyes can even focusa man died while I slept, nobody even noticedI pray it wasn't him, but I know it was someonethink about the family, today someone lost their husband, father, or son

Check for signs of life, any I can finddid he log on or email.. nope.. now it's all a matter of timeI go and get their breakfast, the kids still gotta be fedI've still gotta be a mother, even though I just wanna crawl back into bed

I do my daily chores, laugh and play the rolethinking of him always.. the pain runs deep down through my soulgo check again, hoping, he's made it back alivestill nothing, but 9 hours ahead, means it's only 8:45

phone rings, heart drops.. please don't let it be the call'yes it's me' I say.. oh; it was a wrong number after allno idea what he's doing, but I still wonder anywaygotta stop thinking for a while, take the kids outside to play

cook a supper that'll feed - two kids and myselfdoesn't matter what it is, there's always too much leftbathtime's finally over.. the kids are tucked in bed"make sure you tell daddy you love him, he can still hear you in his head"

I hear the message tone.. run to see if it's really himthank God!! we made it through another day, now it's time to start again.

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2008 - More than 200 volunteers took the opportunity to support the troops here April 19 during the Jack Daniel's-United Services Organizations' "Toast to the Troops" care package stuffing party.

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2008 - Returning from combat in Iraq or Afghanistan with a disability certainly brings with it a number of challenges, but for one soldier, a great aid to his successful recovery was the easy transition he made into the civilian job market.

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2008 - People who couldn't attend a day-long celebration of those who serve in the military here last week could still enjoy the sounds thanks to and Internet music and video site.

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2008 - When the nomination period closed on Jan. 21, the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve had received a record 2,199 nominations for its 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, a 97 percent increase over the previous year's 1,119 nominations.

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Scott Maynard Special to American Forces Press Service

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq, April 17, 2008 - Soldiers from 203rd Brigade Support Battalion here tested their soldiering skills in a series of physical and mental tests known as the "Eagle Challenge" earlier this month.

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2008 - A jack of many trades and master of the deadpan delivery, Ben Stein yesterday added one more title to a list that already includes actor, economist, educator and writer: that of exceptional public servant.

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2008 - Military spouses and United Service Organizations volunteers will have a chance to join the Jack Daniel's Distillery in offering a "Toast to the Troops" and enjoy a performance by country music star Craig Morgan at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., April 19.

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2008 - Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear signed legislation into law this week that will ease the transition for military children as their servicemember parents move from assignment to assignment during their careers.

HONOLULU, April 11, 2008 - Army Pfc. Shane Stuard couldn't think of a better place to spend the last day of his rest-and-recuperation leave before rejoining his unit in Iraq than at the Hale Koa Hotel here.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Then you tell him it's okayThat you'll see him again somedayYou just hate to be apartBut he knows.

Your struggle is great and the pain immenseYour inner war is epic and the battles intenseAll you want is himBut he knows.

The pain and the sorrowThe loneliness and tearsThe frustration of waitingThe numerous fears

He knows what it is likeHe understands it very wellHe knows all the feelingsHe knows all the thoughtsBut he wants you to knowThat no matter whatNo matter where you areNo matter how nearOr how very farHe loves you

And he understands above allThe things you go throughBecause, although he won't show itSo you won't always know it,He goes through all of it too...

FORT MYER, Va., April 7, 2008 - Children normally are told to quit clowning around, but today it was actually encouraged, as clowns from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus entertained more than 100 youngsters at the child development center here.

WASHINGTON, April 7, 2008 - Deployments are tough on military families, especially on the children.

Children of deployed National Guardsmen and reservists often must deal not only with a parent's absence, but also with the financial burden their family must bear when the deployed parents' military pay is less than they earn in civilian life.

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, April 7, 2008 - Dealing with a loved one's deployment can be difficult. But for Marine families based thousands of miles from home, the challenges might seem even more daunting if not for an active family support network in place to help them.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2008 - As a means of combating identity theft, the Defense Department will issue identification cards without full Social Security numbers printed onto them, a senior official said here today.

By Spc. William E. Henry, USA Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2008 - In mid-March, Indiana school administrators, military support groups and volunteers met at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville, Ind., to learn about ways to assist children affected by a family member's deployment.

A Feeling like this Always Wondering!This is for my baby, Greg! I love you so much!

I always knew it would be hard, but I never knew it would be quite like this.

Days go by slower and slower, as the nights seem to get longer and longer; and I wonder where you are.

Are you safe? Are you alone? Are you in good health? Are you scared? Are you worried? What all is on your mind? There are just so many questions to ask the list just goes on and on, it never seems to get shorter; and I never seem to have the time.

There's no way for me to explain how I feel all I can say is worry. That is all I seem to do these days. What you are out there doing is so heroic in my eyes, but all I do is worry about you and hope you come home soon. While I sit here and think my heart starts to worry there are so many questions I need to ask I can't ask them all at once in such a hurry. So, I sit and wait 'til that time has come when my phone rings and you're the one.

I e-mailed you just the other day, which goes along with the e-mails I send you just about everyday. I just wanted to see how you were doing, to tell you "I love you", and tell you about my day. I wait for your letters, e-mails, and calls but all is in all it seems so long since we've talked.

Finally, the day has come when my phone rings and it's you my love, what a delight it is to hear your voice. How I have longed so just to hear you say you love me. That is just want you do. You whisper softly, "Babygirl, I love you!" We only can talk a little bit longer; you tell me you are doing ok which makes me stronger. I still can't believe you are out fighting this war, but you're doing what you love so what else can I say but I am here to support you one hundred-ten percent of the way. I tell you, "I miss you" and you miss me too. It's just so weird that I don't get to talk to you like I used to. I'm counting down the days until you come home; as I think about it more and more the tears start to fall. "I love you babygirl" you say once again, I tell you "I love you more, the mostest and I know you grin. You giggle and sigh because you know it ain't true; you seem as sad as me and what to come home too.

Months go by there's more months to come the silence hurts me as I wait for you to come home. While I know you are out doing what you love to do; I still have many things on my mind about you as my day goes on through. I am so proud of you baby, for what it is you do. You are out there fighting this battle wanting to win, although at the same time your life could end. That is a chance you are willing to take as am I, because I know you are fulfilling your dreams which make mine.

I always knew it would be hard, but never knew it would be quiet like this.

Days go by slower and slower, as the nights seem to get longer and longer; and wondering where you are is on my mind, but you know that is the price one pays when being an ARMY WIFE!

I love you baby! I'm always here, will never leave. Please be safe and come home soon, because it's you that I long to be with my whole life through. My dreams are coming true more each day that I'm with you.

This was written by me, Kayla Renee Chesser on 14 of August 2007 the day that my baby went out to do what he loves most in this world. I am so proud of him and although I ain't an army wife just yet (lol) all army wives, girlfriends, fiances' and so forth all go through this one feeling when there soldier deploys and when writtin' this it just fit to put army wife at the end. I love you baby, I am so proud of you! Please be safe come home soon! I love you!!!

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2007 - Popular rock musician John Mellencamp took to the stage at Walter Reed Army Medical Center April 27 and delivered his trademark Americana singing style as a tribute to the wounded soldiers who inspired him at the hospital.

Soldier Missing From The Korean War Is IdentifiedNo. 498-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 27, 2007

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Korean War, has been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

WASHINGTON, April 26, 2007 - The Defense Department's America Supports You program welcomed more than 500 children to the Pentagon's center courtyard today for arts and crafts as part of the 15th annual "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day."

USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, April 25, 2007 - Members of the Defense Department's Joint Civilian Orientation Conference today walked, or catapulted, away from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower with a greater appreciation for what sailors are doing for their nation and the global war on terror.

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2007 - As it observes its 20th anniversary this week, U.S. Special Operations Command continues to face more demand for its forces than it can accommodate -- a challenge the command's deputy commander reported yesterday won't abate even with more special operators in the pipeline.

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2007 - Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffery Hartless, an airborne ranger and master parachutist, served nearly his entire 24-year career jumping out of planes. He earned parachute badges from Italy, Jordan, Norway, Korea, Germany and Honduras. His airborne career ended, though, when he was crushed under a 10-ton front loader in Afghanistan in 2005. Once stable, Hartless was taken to Walter Reed Army Medical Center here.

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2007 - Coffee has always been an integral part of military life, and the recent coffee craze in America just whet the appetite of soldiers, sailors airmen and Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2007 - Extended overseas deployments affecting soldiers serving in Afghanistan and other locales overseen by U.S. Central Command should help to alleviate the stress on the Army, a senior U.S. officer in Afghanistan told Pentagon reporters today.

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2007 - A Cleveland-based musician and songwriter is hoping one of his newest works will raise the country's collective awareness of the sacrifices its servicemembers are making every day.

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2007 - The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has worked to gain and maintain the support of America's employers for the nation's National Guardsmen and reservists since 1972.

(Salt Lake City-April 24, 2007) Western Governors University (www.wgu.edu) is extending its offering of supplemental $1,500 scholarships for the Spouses to Teachers program. WGU is offering the scholarships to all military spouses in any location, beyond the 14 current pilot states where the Spouses-to-Teachers program is offered. Bachelor's and master's degree programs are offered by WGU's Teachers College.

(Salt Lake City-April 19, 2007) Western Governors University (www.wgu.edu) is extending its offering of supplemental $1,500 scholarships to students participating in the Troops to Teachers program through June 2008 (http://www.wgu.edu/tuition_financial_aid/troops_overview.asp). The WGU scholarships are in addition to the regular Troops to Teachers program stipends. Bachelor's and master's degree programs are offered by WGU's Teachers College.

By Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Holloway, USNSpecial to American Forces Press Service

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 23, 2007 - More than 100 military spouses gathered here April 20 to discuss one thing -- their future.

"The military spouse, as many of us know -- and I am the wife of a retired chaplain -- had to start over almost anywhere we moved," said Jerrie Cleaver, coordinator for the Office Technology Department at Central Texas College.

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 22, 2007 - In golf jargon, a "handicap" refers to the number of strokes that separates an amateur golfer from a pro. On the Woodmont Country Club driving range here April 20, the term described a more literal disadvantage.

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2007 - The Defense Department is partnering with the Department of Labor and private-sector health care associations to promote the medical transcription field as an ideal career choice for spouses who make frequent moves with their military mates.

WASHINGTON, April 20, 2007 - What started out as a way for an Arizona Army mom to support her deployed son has turned into a nonprofit organization that sends about 2,500 care packages to servicemembers each month.

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2007 - To increase troops' morale, three National Football League players, weighing in at a combined 662 pounds, set aside their football gear for a trip to Iraq to visit with Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers April 16.

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2007 - The recent security crackdown in Baghdad has not pushed violence into other parts of Iraq, despite various "high-profile attacks" that might indicate the opposite, a senior U.S. military officer said here today.

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2007 - The Defense Department will work with local schools to try to ensure that military children receive quality education no matter where they attend classes, said the director of the Department of Defense Education Activity.

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2007 - Thousands of school children, community leaders, church members and volunteers throughout the nation are preparing to remember those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, and to honor military veterans past and present.

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2007 - The Military Officers Association of America recognized actor Gary Sinise, the DuPont company and six other people for their support of the military, during the association's 10th annual awards ceremony here last night.

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2007 - Due to budget shortfalls, the Army announced April 16 that spending restrictions will be enforced while waiting for Congress to pass an emergency supplemental for funding requirements associated with the global war on terror.

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2007 - When a soldier returns from war, is he the same person he was before deploying?

No, he's not, said Robert May, producer of "The War Tapes," a documentary that shows Operation Iraqi Freedom through the eyes of several New Hampshire National Guardsmen who were supplied with digital video cameras and an endless supply of tape.

The Department of Defense announced today a program to recognize service members who deploy or mobilize beyond the established rotation policy goals.The goals for the Activeand Guard/Reserve units are one year deployed to two years at home station (1:2) and one year mobilized to five years demobilized (1:5) respectively.

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2007 - A Marine who served two tours in Iraq, and is now speaking in American communities about his experiences, said that today's Iraqi Army soldiers prefer their current system to life in Saddam Hussein's military.

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2007 - Stars for Stripes knows troops deployed to remote locations don't have the luxury of heading out to their favorite venue to take in a concert, so it takes the concerts to them.

PEORIA, Ariz., April 15, 2007 - Servicemembers stationed in Baghdad got an earful - and an eyeful - yesterday from about 4,000 supporters who gathered here to show their appreciation during the third Cyclerides.com "Hearts to Heroes" motorcycle ride.

BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 15, 2007 - Yesterday, through the magic of technology, more than 50 soldiers, airmen and civilians in Iraq were able to personally thank a group of citizens in Phoenix, Ariz., for supporting the troops and the families they leave behind.

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2007 - Less than two months after a roadside bomb took both his legs during a reconnaissance patrol near Iraq's Syrian border, Marine Corps Cpl. Dylan Gray is preparing for his first encounter with the Defense Department's medical evaluation process.

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2007 - The stress of repeated overseas deployments for National Guard and Reserve members has lessened in recent years, the Defense Department's reserve-component chief told a special commission today at a Capitol Hill hearing.

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2007 - The problems wounded servicemembers and their families experienced at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here are systemic, members of the Independent Review Group said here yesterday.

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2007 - All soldiers in the U.S. Central Command area of operations will serve 15-month tours in the region beginning immediately, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced today.

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2007 - After nearly four decades of military service, Gen. Peter Schoomaker today handed the reins of Army chief of staff to Gen. George W. Casey Jr., who most recently served as commander of Multinational Forces Iraq.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of ten U.S. servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2007 - Purple Heart recipient Spc. Joseph D. Bacani will embark on 45 days of much-deserved convalescent leave in his hometown of Tustin, Calif., tomorrow, but he says he'd rather be elsewhere.

WASHINGTON, April 7, 2007 - On the surface, the market seems perfectly ordinary. Men outside the shops gather to play dominoes, smoke, and drink tea. On hot afternoons, an ice cream stand does a brisk business. But in the dark back rooms of some of the shops, murderous plans are hatched.

The Department of Defense announced today the alert of additional replacement units for deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.These units, consisting of four National Guard brigade combat teams, will deploy consistent with the Secretary of Defense's new policy of mobilizing reserve component units for a maximum of one year at any one time.

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2007 - Sesame Street's Elmo and his friends at Sesame Workshop are helping military children deal with a parent's deployment through a new project called "Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment."

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2007 - Brittany and Robbie Bergquist, respectively 16 and 15, got a pleasant surprise recently when telecommunications giant AT&T responded to their request for help and agreed to support Cell Phones for Soldiers, their troop-support organization.

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2007 - Members of Daniel Acosta's family already had a lot on their minds when he arrived at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio from serving in Iraq with injuries that ultimately cost him an arm.

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2007 - For 23-year-old Joe Finn, it wasn't enough that his parents' Richmond, Va., Liberty Tax franchise was serving as a drop-off point for used cell phones to be recycled for cash to purchase prepaid calling cards for deployed servicemembers.

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2007 - More than 7,000 servicemembers will deploy to Iraq in the coming months, including two units that will not have been back at their home stations for the year they expected when they returned home from their last deployments, Defense Department officials said today.

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2007 - Eight servicemembers with duty experience in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa, who have been selected to tell the military's story to the American public, met with Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England here March 30.

The Department of Defense announced today additional major units scheduled to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.The announcement involves one corps headquarters, two division headquarters and one brigade combat team consisting of approximately 7,000 personnel

MANAMA, Bahrain, April 27, 2006 - Civilian leaders got an introduction here today to one of the least-recognized success stories in the Middle East: how the U.S. Coast Guard is helping keep Iraq's offshore oil terminals operating and training Iraq's new marine force to maintain port and waterway security in the region.

WASHINGTON, April 26, 2006 - Elmo and his red, fuzzy father will star this summer in an effort to teach young military children and their caregivers how best to handle a parent's deployment in a program called "Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families Cope with Military Deployment."

MANAMA, Bahrain, April 25, 2006 - Making a coalition work is not an easy job. But the Friendly Forces Coordination Cell at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command here builds on more than 60 years of working with allies.

LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 21, 2006 - Kentucky's largest city today formally joined the Defense Department's "America Supports You" program on the eve of "Thunder Over Louisville," an annual air show and festival that culminates with the world's largest fireworks display.

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2006 - The Army Reserve is no longer simply a force in reserve, but a vital part of the country's defense that's making big changes to meet its current and future challenges, the commander of U.S. Army Reserve Command said here today.

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2006 - A case in which several sailors face charges for arranging sham marriages to foreign women to boost their military housing allowances sends an important message to all servicemembers, a Navy lawyer told the Pentagon Channel.

DIKHIL, Djibouti, April 20, 2006 - In three months, children in this region of Djibouti will be able to further their education, thanks to Seabees and soldiers from Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2006 - Four state governors just returned from Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait shared glowing reports today about the operations they observed there, but reserved their highest praise for the men and women in uniform they met, including National Guard troops from their states.

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2006 - America is a nation that keeps its promises, and so U.S. troops deployed in Iraq are continuing to fight terrorists there as the new Iraqi government gets onto its feet, Vice President Richard B. Cheney told soldiers at Fort Riley, Kan., yesterday.

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio, April 19, 2006 - The stuff of legend is often a fusion of myth and reality. The legendary feat of the "Doolittle Tokyo Raiders" is just plain unadulterated truth.

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2006 - Military members and families coping with the stress of overseas deployments and other potential health-threatening issues can log onto the Internet to get help, a U.S. military psychologist said here today.

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2006 - Three years ago, Army Pfc. Sam Ross Jr. was disposing of munitions near Baghdad when an explosion took his eyesight, his left leg, part of his hearing and, ultimately, his military career.

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2006 - The Defense Science Board will conduct a summer study on a topic that would have been inconceivable when the Defense Department established the board 50 years ago this year: the military implications of Internet search engines, online journals and "blogs."

ARLINGTON, Va., April 17, 2006 - "Faces of the Fallen," a compelling exhibit featuring more than 1,300 portraits honoring America's servicemen and women who died fighting the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq, will stay on display at the Women's Memorial here until May 31, officials said.

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2006 - With a stroke of Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson's pen here today, all 15 U.S. Cabinet secretaries have now signed a joint statement in support of the Defense Department's Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve organization.

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2006 - Growing up in Bristol, Tenn., country singer April Taylor heard tales of her grandmother's struggles while her grandfather served in Korea, and she's hearing similar tales from her friends today.

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2006 - By many people's assessments, concerns about his ailing father probably lost the Masters Tournament earlier this week for Tiger Woods, one of the most celebrated children of U.S. servicemembers.

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2006 - Professional Golf Association troop supporters had a memorable day touring the Pentagon today, as both a reward for their work raising money to support the troops and as a catalyst for more work in the coming year.

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2006 - Coalition forces, in cooperation with the Afghan National Army, began "Operation Mountain Lion" yesterday to establish security, deter the re-emergence of terrorism, and enhance the sovereignty of Afghanistan, military officials reported today.

On Memorial Day weekend, May 26 - 28, the Minnesota Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) will once again bring our incredible story of patriotism to the Red Wing regional airport and present "Wings of Freedom: Salute to Veterans." This three-day educational spectacle will be presented as a tribute to the country's men and women in uniform.

By Sgt. 1st Class Michael Rautio, USASpecial to American Forces Press Service

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, April 10, 2006 - For the neediest citizens of this mountainous country, humanitarian and relief supplies often arrive in bundles attached to parachutes and dropped from coalition aircraft to the ground.

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2006 - The Pentagon Channel has added video podcasting to its line of products that distribute the channel's military news and information to the nation's men and women in uniform.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, April 11, 2006 - Coalition forces responded to a terrorist attack this morning at the Salabagh School in the capital city of Afghanistan's Kunar province, Combined Forces Command Afghanistan officials reported.

ABOARD USS NASSAU, AT SEA, April 9, 2006 - Expeditionary Strike Group 8 transited through the Suez Canal April 7, marking the end of more than four months of maritime security operations in the 5th Fleet area of operations.

PHILADELPHIA, April 9, 2006 - Philadelphia's indoor soccer team kicked its support for U.S. servicemembers into high gear last night when it announced its partnership with the "America Supports You" program.

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2006 - Three years ago, on live television, the world watched Saddam Hussein's statue fall in downtown Baghdad, but a Marine who saw it firsthand believes that image doesn't tell the full story he lived.

NEWPORT, R.I., April 7, 2006 - The senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke about servicemembers' expectations of their senior enlisted leaders and the need for jointness during graduation at the Navy's Senior Enlisted Academy here yesterday.

The Navy has announced that the first DD(X) destroyer will be designated DDG 1000. As the lead ship in the class, it will also be named in honor of former Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Elmo R. "Bud" Zumwalt, Jr.

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2006 - Servicemembers seriously injured by improvised explosive devices during duty in the global war on terror are getting a unique opportunity to use their experience to combat and prevent future IED attacks.

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2006 - Proud military parents deployed throughout the terror war theaters of operation are featured on the America Supports You Web site devoted to April's Month of the Military Child.

HAMPTON, Va., April 6, 2006 - The Defense Department is working to create an integrated information network that enables all military components to easily share critical data, a DoD official said here yesterday.

NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, April 6, 2006 - The military commissions case of accused terrorist Omar Khadr, which has already dealt with questions about pre-trial publicity, was confronted with more legal issues yesterday, with the defense team facing an ethical dilemma and then going on to challenge the presiding officer's fitness to serve.

The Department of Defense announced today the identity of a Marine and a sailor supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, who have been listed as Duty Status - Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) after the seven-ton truck in which they were riding rolled over in a flash flood near Al Asad, Iraq on April 2. The incident was not a result of enemy action.

In an effort to show its support for U.S. military personnel serving around the globe, USA Basketball's "Hoops for Troops" is joining with the Department of Defense's (DoD) "America Supports You" program for a collaboration that will extend through the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del., April 4, 2006 - Seventeen people are in various stages of recovery after surviving a C-5 aircraft crash less than a mile from Dover Air Force Base's southern perimeter yesterday.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, April 4, 2006 - Deployed to Afghanistan for a year, Army Lt. Col. Timothy Newcomer will miss his son's prom, high school graduation and, a few months later, his departure to college.

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2006 - Military officials are investigating whether friendly fire caused the March 29 deaths of one American and one Canadian soldier and wounds to five other coalition servicemembers in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2006 - The Defense Department has long understood the value of caring for and celebrating children of servicemembers.

April is designated as the Month of the Military Child, underscoring the important role military children play in the armed forces community. The Month of the Military Child is a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make and challenges they overcome.

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2006 - Recognizing that children of servicemembers often face challenges that other children do not, the nonprofit child development organization "Zero To Three" launched a special project geared specifically toward military families.

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2006 - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her British counterpart, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, made a surprise visit to Iraq today to urge officials there to hasten their formation of a national unity government.

USCG News

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